Celebrations for Easter Triduum in Umbria are several, encompass and involve different spots, from the small mountain village to the main town. Everywhere in the region, you could participate to unique as well as particular religious and not religious rites, deeply rooted in the past of the area.

The Holy Thursday is the day when Jesus’ Last Supper and his prayer on the Getsemani’s mountain is recalled: the Chrism’s Solemn Mass will be celebrated in Assisi and there will be a blessing of the Holy Oils that will be used to celebrate sacraments during the year. In the evening, after the first mass of Easter Triduum, worshippers will visit the several churches of Assisi to pray in presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Later, recalling the ancient 14th century Scavigliazione’s lauda, the ceremony of Christ’s Deposition will take place in Assisi. On Friday morning, if you’ll stay in Assisi, you will be able to participate to the procession during which the Dead Christ’s Statue will be moved from the St. Rufin’s Cathedral to St. Francis’ Basilica, through intermediate stages in enclosed monasteries.

In the Holy Friday’s evening people will pray in Assisi during the historical and inspiring procession of the dead Christ: a procession accompanied by torches which will see the participation of all Assisi’s brotherhoods. The parade will start from St. Rufin’s Cathedral just with the Lady of Sorrows’ statue. After the stage in the St. Francis’ Basilica the Dead Christ’s statue will be also carried in the procession.

An evocative procession will take place in Gubbio in the Holy Friday’s evening and it is deeply rooted in the 13thcentury: during the celebration, only lit by the torches’ light, the symbols of Christ’s Passion, that is the pictures of Dead Christ and of the Lady of Sorrows, will be carried in the procession, accompanied by two choirs singing the Miserere.

The solemn Stations of the Cross will take place in Montefalco, on the Holy Friday, in the inspiring Sanctuary of the Star’s Lady, whereas during the Holy Saturday’s Mass, in the St. Bartolomeo’s Church, you will be able to see a very peculiar event, half-way between the religious worship and the popular tradition: whilst the Gloria will be sung, the 18th century wood statue of the risen Christ will burst into the church, on the shoulders of some running sedan chair bearers, the ostiaries will slam the doors and the church will blaze with light and colours, accompanied by the tolling of bells’ all over the city.

Spello will open its doors to art, in order to celebrate the Holy Week, with the Author’s Stations of the Cross: the fourteen stations of the Cross will become a source of inspiration for national and international artists who for the occasion will make paintings to place in the most significative places of the historical center. The stations of the Cross include some stops in front of paintings to listen to the evangelical message of the Risen Christ.

An almost theatrical performance of Jesus’ life will take place in Città della Pieve on the Easter Sunday and Monday with the Living Pictures: the traditional performance of Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection will take place in the undergrounds of Orca Palace and will see the participation of about 40 figures. In each hall of the palace you will be able to relive all the steps of Passion, with specific reference to the Last Supper, the prayer in the Getsemani’s garden, the Ecce Homo, the Flagellation, the Piety and Resurrection. You will be able to notice that each scene is inspired by a painting of the Italian pictorial tradition of 16th and 17th century.

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The first day of the Eurochocolate in Perugia is scheduled for October 13th. The review will end on day 22. Ten uninterrupted days of events and shows, which will have the center exclusively chocolate, declined in all its art. No tickets are provided, so talking about prices for the visit does not make sense, as long as you do not buy directly the tasty chocolate on display in the Umbrian city. As usual, Eurochocolate takes place along the main streets of Perugia. Among these we mention Piazza IV Novembre, Piazza Italia, Corso Vannucci, via Mazzini, the Republic Square, the covered market terrace and via Fani.

This year, more than 130 companies will take part in the Eurocholate. A significant milestone, which allows to fully understand what is the value of an event that for years represents one of the most important events of an entire season for the capital of the region of Umbria. For even better participation, the Board of organizers is to buy the Chococard. Through its acquisition you have access to numerous free tastings, discounts on any purchases, freebies and facilities. The owners of the Chococard will also be able to participate in the extraction of interesting prizes. You can buy it directly in Perugia, at the special stands (ChocoCard Point).

Processions in medieval costume and other festivities take place in Orvieto to celebrate the events that led to the building of the town’s cathedral. Celebrations also take place in other Umbrian towns, notably Spello.

The Feast of Corpus Christi in Orvieto

As every year on the Feast of Corpus Domini (Corpus Christi, Body of Christ, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost in Italy, 9th after Easter, ed), Orvieto relives the solemnity of the ceremony, both religious and purely popular. “To lead the dance” is the Corteo delle Dame (Ladies Parade), previous Saturday afternoon, about 16:30, which proposes an imagery glimpse of medieval life: the nobles of the ruled territories, arrived in the city to march in the parade, were followed by numerous ladies and courtiers. And in honor of the firsts the Podestà (Magistrate, the ancient Mayor) organized plays in the square, from Medieval dances to songs, from performances by flag-wavers to those by falconers, with the Palazzo del Popolo as framework.

But it would be ungenerous to reduce the strong bond between Orvieto, the Orvietani and the Feast of Corpus Christi to, albeit spectacular, historical and religious reenactments. In fact in this day is celebrated the miracle of the Sacramental Bread, the Eucharistic miracle of Bolsena. Tradition has it that in 1263 a Bohemian priest, Peter of Prague, going to Bolsena stopped to celebrate Mass at the altar of St. Cristina. The priest was plagued by doubts. He did not believe possible the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. During the consecration a miracle occurred: blood gushed from the communion bread. The event was communicated to the Pope, Urbano (Urban) IV, who resided in Orvieto, who ordered the immediate transfer of the vestments worn by the priest, the Sacro Lino del Corporale, to the city of the Rupe. Still visible today to the faithful, contained in a Reliquary, during the Procession.Urban IV, a year later, in 1264, extended the feast to the whole Catholic world.

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TheinternationaljournalismFestivalstart your engines:the datesof the Tenth Edition“From6toApril 10, 2016theinternational journalism Festivalback to Perugiawith itstenth edition.This10thEdition will take placeover the course of5dayswith over200events-discussionmeetings, interviews, book presentations, workshops andtheatre evenings–and more than500speakers,coming from all over the world, will arrivein Perugiato discussjournalism, current affairsandinformationproblems.All,as every year, allfree of charge.

Special offer – valid from 8 to 29 December 2017.

Villa Santa Tecla,House of hospitality of the Diocese of Assisi, invites you to spend all Christmass in Assisi, the city of St. Francis, that in this time of year is even more warm and charming than always. Living the holidays, you have the opportunity to discover all the initiatives proposed by our Region, from the charming Christmas markets to the unforgettable living Nativities.

OUR OFFER FOR CHRISTMAS – VALID from 8 to 29 December 2017

BED AND BREAKFAST ARRANGEMENT€ 35.00 € 30.00 per personIN DOUBLE OR TWIN ROOM(Excluding period from 23 to 27 December2016)

*** COME TO ASSISI FOR CHRISTMAS ! ***

Reductions and supplements:
-Infants less than 4 years =Free
-Discount of € 8.00 for the third and fourth bed.
-Children (4-13 years old sharing room with parents) = children have a discount of 35% on the adult on half board or full board arrangement.
-Single supplement: € 15,00 per day

Taking advantage of our offer for a memorable journey that includes:

-Free access to Wi-Fi
-Free parking
-Assistance and information for itineraries, events and activities in Assisi and in Umbria.

With included ONE choice between:

– Audioguide from Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi*
– Ticket for Museo of Wine* (MUVIT) and Museum of Oil* (MOO) in Torgiano.
– Ticket to the museum circuit of Assisi* (Rocca Maggiore, the Roman Forum, Picture Gallery)*Transfer is not included